Sorting machine



Pet}. 26, 1929.

G. J. OLNEY SORTING MACHINE 5 Shets-Sheet Filed Dec. 50, 1927 Feb. 26,1929. 1,103,591

I G. J. OLNEY 'SORTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1927 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 attozk url G- J. OLNEY SORTINQ MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1927 S Sheets-Sheet //////////7 mum 12% 61mm, S

Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE J. OLNEY, OF WESTERNVILLE, NEW YORK.

SOR'IING MACHINE.

Application filed December. 30, 1927. Serial No. 243,635.

My present invention relates to a machine generally adapted for sorting articles according to size and particularly adapted to so sort green string beans preliminary to canning.

The purpose of my invention is to prov de a machine of new and improved construction and one which readily and quickly sorts the beans or other articles according to the desired standard.

Further purposes are to provide a machine of such construction that the beans may be closely sorted but will be handled with a minimum of breakage or crushing by reason of having improved means to release the beans that have become caught between the sorting slats of the barrel of the machine; to provide a machine where the normal size of the sorting slots between the slats of the barrel may be readily and accurately adjusted to any one of several sizes or standards and to have such adjustment not interfered with by the temporary movement of certain of the slats to release the beans that have become caught in the barrel; and to provide in a machine of the type described not only the usual screw conveyor for transmitting the articles slowly through the barrel for the reg ular sorting operation but also to provide a second conveyor preferably in the form of an endless belt which will receive the articles re:

leased from the top of the barrel and transport them longitudinally of the barrel as far as needed. This second or supplemental conveyor operates to greatly speed up the action of the sorting machine and may be used either to carry the articles received thereon to a subsequent part of the barrel or to a subsequent barrel in a set or to a point entirely out side of the barrel.

A further purpose is to prov1de a machine having the general features mentioned which can be variously combined or adjusted as by the machine with parts of the frame-work broken away.

. Fig. 5.is a detail vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, but with the movable slats adjusted somewhat inwardly.

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 2, but with the movable slats in inward position.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through the slat lifting cam and adjacent parts.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the drum connecting the adjacent heads of the two barrels.

Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal sectional View showing a movable slat mounted in its outmost position. in a barrel head.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on line 1010 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the cam plate.

Referring to the drawings in a more particular description it will be seen that I have shown and will describe a machine having two similarly constructed sorting barrels, namely a first barrel 10 and a second barrel 11 mounted tandem fashion, that is on the same axis and mounted within the same main frame 12 driven from the same drive shaft 13 and with one primary or screw conveyor 14 extending continuously through the two barrels and the intervening passageway 15 therebetween and with one secondary or belt con veyor 16 operating within said two barrels. As the construction of the two barrels l0 and 11 are alike, detailed description of only the first barrel will be necessary. It will be obvious, furthermore, that my invention is not limited to a machine having two barrels but that the two-barrel-machine is simply illustrative of my invention which may be as to most of its combinations embodied in a machine having only one barrel or in a machine having more than two barrels.

The main frame 12 may conveniently be formed from angle iron and consists of pairs of spaced uprights 17, upper and lower cross pieces 18 and 19 respectively and horizontal top bars 20 extending the length of the machine. On each lower cross bar 19 are two bearings 21 spaced apart and having mounted therein the front and rear shafts 22 and 28 respectively. Each shaft carries a roller 24 against which rests and rotates the outer sur- Ill) inner end oi each head there is an inwardly extending flange 29 to which are secured or connected the opposite ends or the fixed slats 30 and the movable slats31. The fixed slats are alternately arranged in the barrel with their ends suitably rigidly secured to said barrel heads as by screws 69 and washers 7 0v as shown in 8 with'the inner sides of said fixed slats 30 substantially in line with the inner edge 32 of the inwardly extending flange 29 of the heads.

-Between each two adjoining fixed slats there is movably mounted a movable slat 31. The movable slats are mountedin the opposite heads of thebarrelso'that said'movableslats may be positioned in, the same circle as the fixed slats 30 or may be moved radially from thecenter ofthe barrel. In order to 'conveniently accomplish [this motion the end portions 33 of the said slats 31 opposite the head flanges 29 are of square or rectangular formation and slidingly fit, into slots 34 formed in the'fianges 2 9 and extending into said flanges from their inner edge 32. Through each squared portion 33 extends the smooth portion of the shankof cap screw 35. Theouter end of this shank extends'through screw; threaded holes 36 in the cylindrical portion 27 of the head with the screw head normally engaging the inner surface of the slat 31. About the central portion ofeach screw 35 is a coiled expansion spring 37 operating to yieldingly torcethe ends-oi these movable slats as far inwardly as will be allowed by the adjustment of the screws 35. As will be seen from Figs. 5 and 6 the outer ends of these springs engage against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the head and the inner end of the springs engage against the outer surface of the squared portion 33 of the slats. The arrangement'of these parts is such that the movable slats 31in-ay be adjusted to be on the same circle with the fixed slats30. The-movable slat farthest t0itl1'6 right in Fig.

5 shows this extreme inward position of the movable slats in line with the fixed slats. When the movable-slats are in'this position it will be seen that the sorting slots 38 formed between each adjacent pair of slatsnamely a. fixed and a movable slat will bethenarrowest slot-to which the sorting machine-can be adjusted. By adjusting the. screw-threaded connection between each screw and the end of a movable slat it will be obvious that the 1novable sla ay be forced ont a'ar'lly'to successive n1... slats. As the movable slats are so adjusted sides of the worm. braces go from the rods alongthe back side one beyond the circle of the fixed outwardly the sorting slots 38 will gradually and regularly increase in width and thus adjust the barrel to let pass through the sorting slots a larger size of bean or other article being worked upon. By this screw-threaded adjustment the machine may be very accurately set'to sort any one of a great variety of closely approaching standards or sizes of beans or other articles.

At the front or left hand end of the first barrel 10 there isprovided an outwardly extending drum39 extending from the head outwardly or to theleft and in line with the inner surface of the slats of the barrel. l/Vhere, as in the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a'iirst and a second barrel'are mounted in tandem fashion -the two barrels are connectedby similar drum forming theintcrvening passageway 15. At the delivery end, namely the right-hand end of the second barrel 11, there is a similardrum 10 extending outwardly for convenience in delivering the beans or other articles that have not there'tofore been delivered from the barrel. The beans or other articles are conducted to thefrontor left hand-end of the machine through a suitable chute 41. Closely fitting within the two barrels andwithin the drum extensions 39'and 40 and the intervening pas- S21gQ'WH'y'15 is ascrew conveyor 42. The sue cessive wings of the screw-conveyor are spaced far enough apart lengthwise of the barrels .so as to give full chance for long articles like green string beans to arrange themselves longitudinally of the barrel and so in line with the sorting slots 38 as the,ro tating movement of the machine causes the beans to slide or tumble down along the ascending inn'crsurfaceof the barrel. The beans or other articles-that are small enough 'to pass through-the said sortingslots 38 fall from thelower' portion of the barrel through said slots into'the receiving chutes under the-first barrel and 44 under the second bar- 7 rel. As the machine and particularly the screw conveyor 14 is shown'the barrels are rotated counter-clockwise as viewed from the deliveryehdinFig. 4.

The screw conveyor is of the type having a left handcomplete plate 14 and simply one tending rods 45 secured-to the inner edges of each wingof the spiral as by having transversely extending slctscutin said rods into which lit the inner edges oft-he opposite Radially extending of the conveyor to certain ofthe fixedslats. The fixed slats are circular in form and the inner half'oi' the operating length of the form so that are circular in aided into alignment with the sorting slots by the trough-like or funnel-like formation of the spaces between any two slats leading to the smallest part of the sorting slots which is of course the determining factor for the size of articles sorted.

In a sorting machine of this type many of the beans or similar irregularly shaped articles become caught between the sorting slats as by having one end or one part of a bean small enough to go through the sorting Slot but with the rest of the bean or other article too large to clear the same. As the barrels of the machine rotate these beans are carried to the upper part of the barrel and some of them are released by gravity. Many of the beans or other articles, however have become firmly enough caught between the sorting slats that they will not drop of their own accord by gravity. To make sure of the release of these beans caught 1 provide mechanism for temporarily increasing the size of the sorting slots at the upper part oil the barrel. This means consists of a cam in at each end of each barrel suitably carried on a bracket 47. depending from the top cross bars 20 so that the sloping upper face 48 of the cam will engage and push upwardly the projecting ends of the movable slats 31. The position of the cam is adjustable as by insertingdillerent thicknesses or" plates 47 between the bracket and its support.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the ends of the movable slats proiect'outwardly beyond flange 29 of the heads 26 and have their inner sides cut away to give room for the cam 46. The shape and operation oi the cam in effecting this release movement is shown in the detailed sectional view Figs. 6, 7 and 10. The left hand movable slat 31 further indicated by the letter A in Fig. 6 shows the normal or inward and working position of the movable slats. As the successive slats come to the cam face 48 they are moved radially outwardly through the positions shown by the movable slat by E, C and l) and then back to normal position. As the alternate movable slats are thus temporarily moved outwardly from the fixed slats the distance between the fixed and movable slats is appreciably increased and effects a quick and definite release of any beans or other articles caught in the barrel. This clearing of the slats of the barrel from articles caught therein goes on continuously for the full length of the barrel or any number ofbarrels used and operates to increase the capacity and effectiveness oi the sorting ma chine and a machine constructed as so far described has many points of advantage and improvement over machines heretofore devised.

A. further purpose of my invention however. is to provide means for catchii ,2; the beans or other articles released at thetop oi the barrel and transporting them longitudinally oi the barrel an appreciable length or to a point outside the barrel or to the following barrel as may be desired. This mechanism located within the barrels and also within the space at the center of the screw-conveyor will now be described.

From the upper cross pieces 18 of the main frame and at the opposite ends of the barrel when only one arrel is used or at the opposite ends of the two barrels used as in the machine shown in Figs. 1 2 and 8, there depend two spaced straps d9 each pair of which support the opposite ends of a belt-carrying frame 50 which in turn carries the endless belt 16 on rollers 52 and 58. The belt-carry frame 50 confets oi opposite side bars 54 and 55 extending lo; t ly of the barrels of the machine and within the central open- 56 ot the screw coni he side bars and extend lon udinally the full length of the barrels but the left hand bar 54. seen in Fi l and which is the near side bar as seen in Fig. 8 is discontinued opposite the intervening passageway 15 for a purpose to he hereinafter described. Between the lower edges of the opposite side bars 5% and 5? there extends the platform 57 a little shorter than the upper length of the belt 51 and adapted to ca said belt without the belt sagging under .11s own weight or that of the beans carried thereby. The belt 16 is driven from the delivery end ot the machine and for this purpose the roller at that end of the machine is located. on a shaft 58 horizontally carried by suitable hearings in a 1 extra upright 59 at the de ivery end of the machine closely towards t 0. left of the belt as the parts are seen in F lwith the other end of the shaft extending through a bearing provided in the main uprightl? at the right hand of the machine. Beyond the frame of the machine this shaft 58 is provided with a gear 60 connected by chain 61 to gear 62 on count-ershaft 63 horizontally mounted in suitable bearings upon the top of the main frame of the machine and h aving a mil-re gear 64 meshwith a suitable mitre gear 65 located upon the main drive shaft 13. It will be understood that the straps 4.9 are located close to but just beyond the outer edges of the drum extensions 39 and ltl of the barrels so as not to interfere with the rotation of the barrels. Similarly the belt and belttrame will be clear oi the inner edges of the screw conrel.

F ig. 4: down intothe spaces between the end of the barrel. The roller 52 is so supported within the barrel and drum'by a shaft 66 .mounted. in two bearings 67 depending from the opposite side bars 54 and 55.

A convenient way of organizing or adjust-' ing the machine is to set the first barrel 10 to sort out the smallest gradeot green beans and to have the second barrel 11 have its sorting slots set: as hereinabove described to the next size of beans that are to be separated.

As the machine is thus organized the first barrel will sort out the first size of beans by allowing that size of beans to fall through the sorting slots in the lower side of the bar- The beans which become caught be tween the slats as being too large to pass through the slots will be released as already described at the top of the barrel and will fall down'to the upper iength of the belt 16 which is traveling towards the delivery end of the machine. The beans so once caught and thus delivered to the belt are carried directly and relatively rapidly the length of this first barrel tothe intervening passageway 15 between thetwo barrels. At this point thereis'placed to engage the top :of the belt the transfer cleat 68 arranged at an angle across the belt. This operates to push the beans of? from the belt preferably onto the near side as shown in screw conveyor. From this point the released and belt-conveyed beans are conducted into the second barrel by the rotation of the barrels and there subjected to a-second sorting operation. These beans are apt to be the ones that will be sorted out by the second barrel as they were small enough to be caught in the slats of the first barrel but just too large to pass'through the slots'ot the first barrel. It

will be understood of course that the beans that are not sorted out by falling through the slots of the first barrel and that do not become caught between the slats of tie first barrel will be slowly'but continuously moved lengthwise of the first barrel and through the intervening passageway 15 where they will be joined by the beans pushed oil of the first section of the belt and then the'beans from both these sources will be conveyed into the secondbarrel. In the second barrel the beans small enough to be sorted-out by the adjustment of the slats therein will fall through the slats into the chute Beans which become caught in the slats of this barrel will be released at the top of the barrel the delivery end of this barrel. If desired the beans transported along the second half of the belt may be caught in a separatereceptacle or chute from that receiving the beans from the barrel itself. The-basis for this separation is that the beans delivered from the second hall of the belt will usually be smaller than the beans delivered from the de livery end of the second barrel itself.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barrel havingseparated slats .lorining therebetween the, sorting openings, moved outw. lly, means for rotating said barrel, means yieldingly holding said alternate slats in sortin wposition and meansoper ating upon said slat in their upper position to temporarily shift said movable slats-outwardly to inc e thedistance betweeniadent s ats and release the articles caught be. .veen the slats. i

The grading machine, the combination oi a rated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings, alternate slats being adapted to be JOVQCl outwardly, means vforrotating said barrel, means yieldingly holding said alternate slats in sorting positiomnieans operating upon said slats intheir upper position to alternate slat being adapted to be rotatably mounted barrel having sepatemporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase the distance between adja-.

cent slats and. release the articles caught betweenthe slats and meansfor progressing the articles longitudinally of the barrel.

8. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barrel havin separated slats forming therebetweenthe sortin openings, alternate slatsbeing adapted to be moved outwardly, means for rotating said barrehineans yieldingly holding said alternate slats in sorting position, means-operating upon said slats in their upper positionto temporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase the distance between adjacent slats and release the articles caught between the slats, and a screw conveyor mounted within said'barrel for progressing the articles longitudinally of the barrel.

l. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barrel having sepa rated slat-s forming 'therebetween the sorting openings, alternate slats being adapted to be'moved outwardly, means for rotating. said barrel, means yieldingly holding said alternatesl-ats in sorting position, means op crating upon, said slat-s in their upper position to temporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase-the distance between adjacent slats and release the articles caught between the slats and a screw conveyor mounted within and traveling with said. barrel for progressing the articles longitudinally of the barrel.

5. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barrel having separated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings, alternate slatsbeing adapted to be moved outwardly, means for rotating said barrel, means yieldingly holding said alternate slats in sorting position, means operat ing upon said slats in their upper position to temporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase the distance between adjacent slats and release the articles caught between the slats and means for adjusting the inner or sorting position of the movable slats.

6. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barrel having separated slat-s forming therebetween the sorting openings, alternate slats being adapted to be moved outwardly, means for rotating said barrel, means yieldingly holding said alternate slats in sorting position, means operating upon said slats in their upper position to temporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase the distance between adjacent slats and release the articles caught between the slats and means for separately adjusting the inner or sorting position of the movable slats.

T. In a grading machine, the combination of a barrel rotatably mounted and arranged substantially horizontally and having separated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings for the articles to drop therethrough at the lower side of the barrel, means for rotating said barrel, means for temporarily increasing the size of said sorting openings at the upper side of the barrel to release the articles caught between the slats, and a belt conveyor extending longitudinally within the barrel beneath the upper part thereof and adapted to receive the articles released from between the slats at the upper part of the barrel and to convey them longitudinally of the barrel.

8. In a grading machine, the combination of a, barrel rotatably mounted and arranged substantially horizontally and having separated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings for the articles to drop therethrough at the lower side of the barrel, means for rotatin said barrel. means for temporarily increasing the size of said. sorting openings at the upper side of the barrel to release the articles caught between the slats, means for adjusting the working size of the sorting openings and a belt conveyor extending longitudinally within the barrel beneath the up per part thereof and adapted to receive the articles released from between the slats at the upper part of the barrel and to convey them longitudinally of the barrel.

9. In a grading machine, the combination of a barrel rotatably mounted and arranged substantially herizoutally and having esparated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings for the articles to drop therethrough at the lower side of the barrel, means for rotating said barrel, means acent the inner surface of the barrel for progressing the articles slowly longitu ,inally of the barrel, means for temporarily increasing the size of said sorting openings at the upper side of the barrel to release the articles caught between the slats and a belt conveyor extending longitudinally within the barrel beneath the upper part thereof and adapted to receive the articles released from between the slats at the up per part of the barrel and to convey them longitudinally of the barrel.

10. In a grading machine, the combination of a barrel rotatably mounted and arranged substantially horizontally and having separated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings for the articles to drop therethrough at the lower side of the barrel, means for rotating said barrel, a screw-conveyor within the barrel and adjacent the inner surface of the barrel for progressing the articles slowly longitudinally of the barrel, means for temporarily increasing the size of said sorting openings at the upper side of the barrel to release the articles caught between the slats, and a belt conveyor extending longitudinally within the barrel beneath the upper part thereof and adapted to receive the articles released from between the slats at the upper part f the barrel and to convey them longitudinally of the barrel.

11. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barrel having separated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings, alternate slats being adapted to be moved outwardly, means for rotating said barrel, means yieldinglyholding said alternate slats in sorting position, means operating upon said slats in their upper position to temporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase the distance between adjacentslats and release the articles caught between the slats, a screw conveyor mounted within said barrel for progressing the articles longitudinally of the barrel and a belt conveyor extending longitudinally within the barrel beneath the upper part thereof and adapted to receive the articles released from between the slats at the upper part of the barrel and toconvey them longitudinally of the barrel.

12. In a grading machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted barre], having separated slats forming therebetween the sorting openings, alternate slats being adapted to be moved. outwardly, means for rotating said barrel, means yieldingly holding said alter nate slats in sorting position, means operating upon said slats in their upper position to temporarily shift said movable slats outwardly to increase the distance between adjacent slats and release the articles can between the slate, a screw conveyor mounted within said barrel for progressing the articles longitudinally of the barrel and means for adjusting the inner or sorting position of the movable slats and a belt conveyor extending longitudinally Within the barrel beneath the upper part thereof and adapted to receive-the articles released from between the slats at the 7 upper part of the barrel and to convey them longitudinally of the barrel.

In witness whereof I have affixedmysignature, this 28th day of'Noveniber, 1927.

GEORGE J. OLNEY; 

